Disclaimer: Alright, these things are getting a bit irritating, so let's just make this clear that for the ENTIRE STORY, RuroKen doesn't belong to me. It does not now, nor will it ever... But I can dream, can't I!

AN: Yay! Chapter! So, it looks like I'm finally back on track with writing. It's not coming out in droves, but it's coming, and at least in a mildly fluid manner. As of now, I have absolutely no idea where this story is going. I'm winging it. But, I promise to have fun with it and try to keep you guys entertained!

Enjoy!

Chapter 4

Kaoru blinked as she stepped outside, one hand rising off her crutches to block the blinding rays of sun from her eyes. She allowed herself the moment to adjust to the light before dropping the hand back down to grip the padded handle of the crutch, glancing around her surroundings before spotting the car standing just ahead of her in the parking circle of the clinic. Aoshi leaned casually against the side paneling of the black SUV, glacial eyes watching her steadily from across the way as she gazed back at him, before pushing away with one fluid movement. The next moment she saw Misao appear from the other side of the car, beaming happily and rushing forward to greet her friend.

"Kaoru, we came to pick you up! I made Hiko give us the SUV so it would be easier for you to get and Aoshi-sama let me drive!"

"That will not happen again," the dark man said quietly as he approached. Misao's face fell and she whined, causing Kaoru to giggle softly at the younger girl.

"I was a good driver! That other guy cut me off!" Misao pouted up at him.

"Misao, when entering the thruway one is meant to yield on the ramp to the primary traffic," Aoshi deadpanned, staring the teenager down until Misao scowled like a scolded child.

"You're so mean to me, Aoshi-sama," she grumbled.

Kaoru laughed at her friends, her side hurting with the effort, but the feeling good nevertheless. Aoshi and Misao always managed to brighten the moment, whether intentionally or not. However, the ache in her side was a blaring reminder for exactly the situation she was in, and Kaoru's smile dropped away from her lips and Misao continued to harass Aoshi over her driving skills.

"Two nights ago, Takayoshi General received an anonymous call that an ambulance was needed promptly at Hiko Judicial Enterprises. We were unable to track the call, and the voice recorded by our operators was scrambled and we were unable to decipher its true nature. An ambulance was sent accordingly, as we never disregard any possible emergency, but from what I was told even the medics became ill from the scene that was discovered." Megumi's eyes hardened as Kaoru watched her recall the memory of receiving the information. The attractive doctor had entered her room late that night, after Aoshi had left, and had sat down with a look of seriousness Kaoru saw only when the situation was dire. Without explanation of conversation, she had begun to speak. "Two men; brutality murdered in a fashion that made it difficult to decipher their identities. Koroku Mitsu's body was still intact, but mangled, and the American Solan Menick was… decapitated in several places."

Kaoru shuddered at the memory of the images, for they were still fresh in her mind, and for a moment she feared she would vomit once again as she had done earlier that day. However, her stomach settled, and she once again looked to Megumi, listening intently.

Megumi's eyes seemed to soften, and they shifted from their distant gaze to focus on Kaoru. "You can imagine the surprise everyone felt, then, when we received an order to be ready to receive a patient with only Class 2 injuries. Also, because of Hiko-san's influence, you were brought directly to the clinic. By then you were suffering from an intense migraine, and we had to struggle with you to administer treatment, but you were almost untouched compared to the other two men in the building. Those who brought you in explained having found you in the stairwell. You had been cut by what was identified as some form of blade or sword, and your ankle was badly sprained, but you were otherwise healthy and in no danger of death after being given blood to replenish what you had lost. We thought it was something of a miracle. However…" Her eyes grew steely once again.

"…The next morning, investigations by the police proved that the murderer of both Koroku-san and Menick-san was the same one that had killed more than fifteen other influential businessmen in the past several months. On the news, they began to call the killer… 'Hitokiri Battousai'."

Kaoru gaped. "Hi-Hitokiri… Battousai?"

"Yes. An ominous name, don't you agree?" Kaoru nodded numbly, thinking of how the name seemed to fit the flame-haired man with the piercing golden eyes who had so calmly threatened to take her life. "The police have been asking after you since you were brought in, but I've been telling them you are too ill to speak to them. I suppose they will find you afterwards to question you about everything. For the time being, I've instructed that you be kept here for observation and rest for four more days. From what I've heard, they've already taken care of the crime scene at your work, and it is planned for everyone to return to their jobs as usual starting tomorrow. By the time we release you, everyone will be well informed on the situation, and they should be wise enough to not address you directly about the matter. I can't say how far you'll be included in the ongoing investigation, but… Kaoru, did you see his face?"

It had been the same question Aoshi had asked her.

Kaoru had stared down intently at her hands, watching them clench and unclench in the sheets of her bed before finding the resolve to look the concerned doctor in the eye. However, at that moment all she could see was a hard, chiseled face that might have been handsome if it had not been so emotionally bereft, hair as red as blood framing eyes that glinted like the blade of a golden knife.

"No… I didn't."

She had lied again that time, just like she had lied to Aoshi earlier that day, but Kaoru could not find the will to feel guilty over the act. Himura had been more than serious about his threat, and Kaoru did not doubt that he would eliminate anyone he suspected might know his true identity, no matter how innocent or uninvolved the person. Kaoru was not willing to take that chance, and she had no desire to see the cold-blooded assassin ever again.

Unfortunately, that sentiment only brought forth a whole different myriad of problems…

"-oru. Kaoru!"

Kaoru blinked and realized she was staring down Misao, who had conveniently shoved her face directly into her own and was frantically waving her hands around to catch Kaoru's attention. She started and stumbled backwards away from the younger girl and Misao grinned triumphantly.

"There you are! You zoned out on us for a minute there!" Kaoru blinked again.

"Oh… I… guess I did."

The delivery girl beamed up at Kaoru before slapping her heartily on the shoulder and bouncing away to where the car was waiting. Kaoru simply looked on, dumbfounded out of her thoughts and trying to regain her senses. Aoshi still stood silently by, and when Kaoru found the sense to move, he helped her over and into the front passenger seat of the car; Misao getting kicked, rather noisily, to the backseat before the tall, dark man seated himself behind the steering wheel.

They drove in near-silence, Misao chatting excitedly from the back while both Kaoru and Aoshi sat in silence in the front. Kaoru chose to stare out the window at the passing cars as they wove through the city streets towards what was most likely her apartment.

Despite what she had said, Megumi had let her go grudgingly that morning, unwilling to let her return to the place where she had been attacked. The stern doctor had actually forced Kaoru to swear not to stay after into the late hours at work anymore before Megumi had physically allowed her to dress and leave the room. Not that she would really be all that thrilled to stay after hours anymore with the thoughts of Himura in her mind…

How long had he been watching Koroku-san to have slipped into the building that night? How closely had he been monitoring… ALL of the firm before that time? Why had Koroku Mitsu been the target? Why not her boss? Was Katsura in on it all? Did he even know what kind of man Himura was? …Had he ordered Himura to kill all those men?

The last question chilled her to the bones, and Kaoru involuntarily shivered in her seat. Katsura had always seemed like a strict businessman, but never a cruel one. If he was truly in on this all, what did that mean? And, if so, surely… surely he would know by now that one, meaningless girl had been left alive to tell the story of her attack; one insignificant girl who just happened to be the right hand of the firm's CEO and a woman who dealt almost continuously with Katsura and Himura themselves.

This time, instead of a chill, Kaoru's blood ran cold.

"We've arrived, Kaoru-san." Kaoru jumped a foot when she felt a hand suddenly clamp down on her shoulder, her eyes immediately snapping towards the source of the contact while her body recoiled without consent. She found herself staring, wide-eyed, into the eyes of a solemn Shinomori Aoshi, her side throbbing painfully and her head beginning to pound.

"A… A-Aoshi-san…" Sometime between driving and drifting away in her thoughts, they had arrived at her apartment complex and Aoshi had parked and circled the car to open her door. Now, he was standing passively by as she tried her hardest to curl herself into the seat like some wild animal. His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, enough to normally snap a person from their thoughts, but Kaoru had reacted as though she were being attacked and she instantly felt her cheeks flush with the embarrassment, forcing herself to calm down and relax. Aoshi said nothing, but wordlessly picked her up from the seat and manually carried her to the building, Misao trailing behind.

They entered the building and Kaoru's keys were produced from among her personal affects that had been recovered with her when she had been found. Kaoru watched as Misao opened the apartment door without even needing to be asked, shooting a worried glance back at Kaoru, before they stepped inside. Aoshi carefully deposited her in her bedroom and set about finding pajamas for her to change into, quietly commanding her to stay put while Misao bustled about with food in the kitchen. Kaoru simply let them, too jilted by the revelations of her previous thoughts to care.

So much had happened in just a few days… Suddenly, her life was tilting on its axis, and Kaoru was unprepared for what was being thrown at her as she tilted with it. Tomorrow she was supposed to go to work, and though she knew that it would easily be excused if she claimed she needed more time, Kaoru knew she would be walking down the street tomorrow morning, crutches under her arms and satchel on her back, ready to fulfill her duties as the youngest intern and closest confidant of Hiko Seijuro, CEO of Hiko Judicial Enterprises.

For once, Kaoru was loath to go to work.

At that same moment, Katsura Kogoro stared idly out the window of his large office on the 65th floor of his office building, watching the sun and the sky that hovered beyond the skyscrapers of the city. He lounged comfortably in the tall, leather chair behind his desk, his back to the doorway and the rest of the office while he gave his full attention to the scenery that he normally enjoyed so much; however, for once Katsura did not see the breath-taking view before him. His mind was heavy with matters that were far more important than the view of Nature outside his office, and his eyes had long since sharpened into a gaze of deep thought.

That did not stop him from noting the silent opening and closing of his office door, as well as the sudden arrival of a presence that could easily have smothered his own if its own chose to do so.

"You summon me, Katsura-san?" The monotonous voice of his subordinate filled the quiet of the office, and Katsura regarded the man without even needing to turn around in his chair, knowing it would be understood.

"I understand that Kamiya-san will be returning to work tomorrow."

There was a pause, then, "That is correct, from what our sources say." He nodded, more to himself since he knew the motion could not be seen from behind the tall chair.

"Six days ago, I was handed a report telling me that Hiko Seijuro's intern had been hospitalized for a sword wound and sprained ankle. I have since been informed that she had recovered nicely, but the police still know little in regards to the attack that injured Kamiya-san and killed two of her co-workers. However, I have also discovered that the man suspected for these incidents is now being labeled…" Katsura frowned lightly at his faint reflection in the window, "Hitokiri Battousai. …Himura, I wish to address these issues before they progress any further."

This time, there was no immediate response, and Katsura took the opportunity to turn in his chair, eyeing the flame-haired man while now stood on the other side of his desk. Himura's eyes were averted, staring towards the floor without really seeing it. Upon noticing his employer's eyes upon him, Himura straightened and met him eye-for-eye. "I understand, Katsura-san."

The frown deepened.

"I believe I do not have to state that I trust your judgment in these matters more than it is thought that I should. You have always been faithful to our cause, and I have always respected that all of those that follow me have their own methods of dealing with the obstacles we all must face, but I am… concerned about this, Himura. It is not like you to let a witness live when so much is at stake, so that leads me to question what exactly happened that night. I understand you have had many encounters with Kamiya Kaoru, but not so many as to have any attachment to her, so I'm sure you can understand my concern." While he spoke, Katsura rose from his chair and watched for the reaction on the face of the swordsman, only to find no reaction. That, at least, was typical.

"I assure you there is no danger to us as of now. Any and all witnesses that were liable were taken care of, as is customary," Himura answered, predictably.

"Why is it, then, that Kamiya-san is still alive? I do believe she, too, has come to know your identity. …But, I could be wrong?" It was his warning, and that knowledge was reflected back at him by the subtle change in the golden eyes that stared into his.

"Kaoru-dono and I came to an understanding that night."

"Oh?" His eyebrows shot up at the information, suddenly curious.

"Please trust that there is no threat to us from her, or from any other party at this time, Katsura-san. I felt it was not in our interest to eliminate the CEO's intern if it could be helped, and I believe Kaoru-dono understood my intent clearly enough when I explained the terms for her life. Be assured, however," Katsura listened as Himura's voice deepened into something deadly, "that if the need arises, I will take out anyone who may be considered a threat, no matter who that person may be."

"Is that so? …I trust you'll do just that, Himura." He nodded to his subordinate before turning away again, listening for the near-silent footfalls as they hesitated, then turned to leave. "-But just to be on the safe side, Kenshin-" the footfalls cut short, and Katsura knew he had his undivided attention.

"-I have your next set of orders, to be carried out indefinitely."

Kaoru grumbled unhappily from the passenger seat of the SUV, sending patented death glares towards the stoic driver, who in turn chose to ignore her and continue driving. She proceeded to fidget in her seat like a petulant child, wringing her hands and switching between wanting to throw a tantrum and simply jumping from the car in defiance.

She wasn't a child! She could very well walk the three blocks to her own place of employment!

After arriving home the previous day, Misao had served her meals in bed and given her both the painkillers and the migraine medicine prescribed to her by Megumi before leaving the hospital. Aoshi had disappeared for a few hours, assumingly taking the car with him and effectively leaving Misao stranded, with nothing else to do but entertain Kaoru. …As if that had gone over well. By the time he had returned, it was to find Kaoru restraining Misao in a rather nasty headlock while the two screamed at each other about the impropriety of suggesting a horror movie after having just witnessed two brutal murders only a week ago. Luckily, he had sent Misao off and home to do some errands that were required for the Aoiya… without the car.

Unluckily, Aoshi had then taken the liberty to stay overnight at her apartment, which she had only discovered after falling asleep rather suddenly in her bed and waking the next morning only to find him already sitting on a stool at her kitchen counter, drinking tea and waiting for her to attend to the hot breakfast he had already prepared for them both. Normally, this would have amused her, if not for his immediate command that she shower and dress so he could escort her to the firm.

Needless to say, Kaoru had seen red.

Furthermore, he had refused to let her walk, even if she "let" him accompany her, and had forcefully (though not harshly) picked her up and slung her over his shoulder in order to deposit her into the car, crutches and all. Looking back, she supposed it did not help that she had claimed to be bodily prepared to resist him, but that wasn't the point!

So now Kaoru found herself grumpy and irritated, wet hair still dripping from where she had refused to tie it up when arguing with Aoshi and clothes rumpled because she had been unable to iron them, but nevertheless riding obediently in the plush SUV on her way to her job.

Hiko would never let her live it down. Bastard.

They pulled up to the building and parked in one of the private spaces reserved in front. Before Aoshi had a chance to move, however, Kaoru had already unbuckled herself, opened the door and retrieved her crutches and satchel from the backseat, glaring pointedly at the tall man and silently daring him to try and stop her. He said nothing, but instead calmly stepped from the car and moved around to accompany her, locking the car. It was not until they had begun to walk that he covertly snatched the satchel away from her and slung it over his shoulder.

Kaoru stared. Aoshi kept walking.

They entered the building with Kaoru "running" (as well as crutches would let her) after a leisurely-paced Aoshi, stringing together profanities that were not appropriate for a sailor, much less the young female intern of a respectable law firm. Kaoru failed to notice this, and kept on until they had already reached the highest floor of the firm, and it was here that her voice abruptly cut off as they stepped from the elevator.

Blood. Everywhere. It was as though someone had slit a vein and watched as the lifeblood splattered along the walls, making sure to cover as much as possible. There was a large, black puddle on the floor, and something that Kaoru could only dimly make out, but feared as the worst possible outcome. She chose to avert her eyes from the unusual lump in the midst of the dimly lit hallway, noting that it was positioned almost directly outside of the office of Koroku Mitsu. There were several pieces strewn about.

The vision flashed before her eyes so quickly that Kaoru stumbled and fell, her crutches nervelessly falling from her fingers.

Only a week ago… Himura was still out there, following Katsura around, doing whatever was bid of him. Would he come in today? Would he threaten her? Would he suddenly change his mind and kill her the next time he saw her? He would see her, and he would watch her with those eyes…

Oh god, oh god, oh god…

She felt herself panic, and looked frantically around, the office looking strangely foreign, especially when she realized that the normal bustle of the room had come to a silent stand-still, all eyes watching her.

It was too soon, too soon… She wasn't ready, it was too much to handle. What if she had to see him? What if… What IF…

"Kaoru!"

She heard the voice before she saw him, but relief flooded through her as the man known as Hiko Seijuro barreled into view, his employees parting effortlessly as he rushed to her side.

"Why the hell did you come here, you idiot? You're barely healed as it is!" he scolded her, drawing her into his arms as a father might his daughter and carrying her away from the staring eyes, towards his office that was far, far away from that of the late Koroku Mitsu. Aoshi followed silently.

She was set gently on a couch in a room adjacent to his office that was usually meant for casual meetings, her breathing still erratic. Her body had begun to tremble without notice, and she shakily adjusted herself against the cushions of the couch, forcing her breathing into steady submission.

A panic attack… It was just a panic attack, normal to victims when first confronting the scene of a brutal crime after the incident. The inability of her body to react to her properly was the result of mild shock as her mind recalled the experience that had traumatized her, and soon her physiological functions would ease and return to normal. Her heart rate would return to normal, her lungs would take expand to take air more easily, her body would calm and her skin would stop feeling so clammy…

As Kaoru recited this to herself, her body slowly followed the rules she had set about for victimized panic attacks. She had seen it before: victims of heinous crimes who became almost virtually crippled when first confronting the setting where the act had occurred. Decidedly, she would not let it claim her.

Her eyes cleared and turned to look at the two men, one scowling at her in disapproval while the other's eyes said all she needed to know. Reminding herself exactly where she was, Kaoru bit out a nervous laugh and smiled at her friend and superior half-heartedly.

"Sorry, I guess I just-"

"Idiot!"

She blinked, only to find herself being stared down by a rather agitated Hiko.

"Where do these idiots come from, that they flock to me? I knew I should have been more careful about who I take in. Most men who adopt little, lost teenager girls either want something for themselves, or know enough to teach the girl when it is smart and when it is foolish to keep coming back to him. Such as, when she may be seriously ill, or when something horrible has happened that she was privy to. But, I see that I must not have taught you well, or else you were just too stupid to take in anything I've ever told you. So? Which is it, Kaoru, because I know I didn't tell you to return to work as of any time before today." The glare sent her way was enough to send Kaoru running from the beginning, and the tongue-lashing did not help.

But, Kaoru being Kaoru, anger soon overrode humility. "I came to work because I've been out for a week and I have a job to do, you mizer! If I don't work, I don't get paid! And who says that I won't be just fine? One little moment of weakness at the threshold doesn't mean I'm crippled for life, you old jerk!" she shot back, glaring daggers at him from her place on the couch. He studied her shrewdly for a moment, weighing her words, and Kaoru continued to glare defiantly back at him, her head high and back straight from where she sat.

Finally, he turned away.

"Do what you like. I don't want to hear it when you're sore and curled up in a corner. Either way, I was told we have a guest that needs entertaining and I have other things to do. Make yourself presentable, I already had the secretary send him to your office to wait for you. Shinomori, come with me." And with that, Hiko was gone, Aoshi with him, without another word.

Kaoru gawked.

That… BASTARD! He lectures her, but assumes she'll come in anyway!

"Argh!"

Shooting up from the couch, Kaoru made quick work of taking the brush she kept in her satchel and fixing her long, black hair up into a neat ponytail and straightening her clothes as best she could so that she looked like the professional businesswoman she should have been. She ignored the application of any and all makeup, as she had always loathed cosmetics, and then made her way out of Hiko's office and headed towards her own.

Upon arriving, she burst in, using only one crutch while setting the other against the wall and setting her satchel down on an unoccupied chair. She was well aware of the person sitting behind her in the room, watching her, but she chose to ignore him until she was prepared, feigning ignorance as she bustled about her office; clambering behind her desk and pushing at some papers before glancing up in pretend embarrassment.

"Oh! My goodness! I didn't see-…you…" The words stopped dead in her throat as she stared across her desk, and Kaoru's heart turned to ice.

"I see you are well, Kaoru-dono."

Golden eyes blazing from across the room, boring into her, and Kaoru felt her throat suddenly constrict. This time, there was nowhere to run to.

Next Chapter: 5, Standards for Battle, Kenshin comes to Kaoru with some... stipulations for her continued survival and the guarantee of protection for her friends.